Welcome

Founded in 2003, Ecole Chocolat Professional School of Chocolate Arts offers a portfolio of programs for chocolate making – mastering techniques while gaining the expertise and business knowledge you need to become a professional chocolatier or chocolate maker. Or you can opt to just become an expert in chocolate!

About our programs
Our programs are developed by our instructors with the help of industry experts. Unlike a print textbook, the program curricula are constantly updated to reflect the latest news, techniques and advances in the industry. Our instructional team are working professionals – not stuck in a laboratory – and they help to ensure the content of our programs never becomes dated or stale.

Meet our team
It's very important to us that our instructional team be working chocolate professionals as well as have the ability to connect with the student. They bring practical, real-world experience to the programs.

Frequently Asked Questions?
Our FAQs page will help you understand our programs and gain reasonable expectations of what is possible based on the knowledge and techniques you acquire with us.

Mastering Chocolate Flavor

As a chocolate professional or chocolate lover, you probably taste chocolate all day, every day. Our Mastering Chocolate Flavor Program will give you the opportunity to focus on the intricacies of chocolate flavor, while helping you use chocolate more effectively in your professional or personal life. Understanding chocolate flavor and how to taste chocolate consciously will help you to create better and more interesting chocolate recipes. How do we teach chocolate making online?

Next Program: February 22 - April 19, 2019

How to register for the Mastering Chocolate Flavor Program:

We have kept the registration fee as low as possible to account for the added cost of the book and the chocolate you'll need for the guided tasting exercises (see the program pre-requisites below for more details).

Pre-requisites:

If you don't have it already, you'll want to have a copy of our book Raising the Bar - The Future of Fine Chocolate before starting the program. We refer to different information in the book to help you with understanding cacao genetics and other information as it relates to what you are studying in the program. The book is available on Amazon in eBook form. You'll want to get the eBook as its our 2nd Edition with updates. eBook versions are also available at: iTunes, Nook Books,Kobo, and Copia.

You'll want to set aside a budget for chocolate bars for your tasting exercises. You'll need from 3 - 4 different chocolates for each tasting assignment and there are five tasting assignments in the program. Once you register for the program, you'll be given the supply list or just email us and we'll get that to you.

When you're ready to register, click either of the following buttons to pay your registration fee of $175.00 US.

OR you can continue with the payment process using AMEX or debit through PayPal in US funds by clicking:
Register Now

Chocolate aficionados and home chocolate artisans!

If you want to become an expert in chocolate flavor, but are not a professional, you are welcome in this program. You register for the program but only complete those assignments that interest you - everything is optional. There is no pressure. We suggest you don't miss participating in Assignment 1, 2 and 4 as they are a lot of fun to do! And you only buy the chocolate supplies indicated for the assignments you want to complete.

What Will I learn?

In this program for professionals and committed aficionados, we'll increase your knowledge of:

Chocolate makers - how specific manufacturing processes in the factory bring out the best flavors of each bean.

Chocolatiers - how flavors and textures created through recipe development celebrate and enhance pure chocolate flavor.

Be prepared to put that knowledge to the test in a series of guided tasting exercises along the way. That's right, once you start to understand what makes chocolate flavor then the real work begins by tasting chocolate.

We encourage everyone in the program to work together on the optional tasting exercises and share their experiences. We encourage you to participate in the guided flavor discussions and even use our Learning Centre Live Chat function to taste and share your insights with each other in real time.

"Because you are a professional working in the chocolate industry, our goal in this program is to take your tasting skills to the next level by teaching you to taste chocolate consciously and better identify and understand the subtleties and nuances associated with chocolate flavor as they relate to recipe development. Whether you are a chocolatier or a chocolate maker, this interactive 100% online program will help you to use chocolate more effectively in your professional life." Pam Williams

"During this program we'll discuss the four basic concepts that will help you taste chocolate more consciously and knowledgeably: the origins of cacao and terroir as they impact chocolate flavor; how flavor works, both physiologically and in chocolate; the elements that contribute to the flavor of a chocolate and last but not least, how to consciously use your knowledge of taste and flavor to better understand your chocolate and the product you create from it." Rich Tango-Lowy

How our Mastering Chocolate Flavor Program works:

This program is all about tasting chocolate. Over 8 weeks, you will study chocolate flavor and taste many different types of chocolate. As you complete tastings, you'll share your experiences with your Flavor Coach and peers through our interactive, online Learning Centre!

At the end of the program, you will receive a digital Master of Chocolate Flavor Certificate.

Your learning experience

Chocolatier Richard Tango-Lowy has been working with chocolate since 1996. Rich opened Dancing Lion Chocolate in Manchester, New Hampshire in 2007, where he sources small plantation and artisan chocolate for his bonbons and confections, each of which is made only one time. When he's not searching for new chocolate, you'll find Rich experimenting in the kitchen behind Dancing Lion's shop and cafe.

Rich says, "I've been actively tasting chocolate for at least 12 years. 'Actively tasting' means that I sit and mindfully, consciously explore a piece of chocolate with my eyes, ears, hands, nose, and mouth. No distractions, no thoughts, notebook before me, pen in hand. After years of tasting, my sense of "taste" has expanded and become much more sensitive; I've learned to 'taste'."

The lectures Ecole Chocolat has assembled here will not only guide you through the art of tasting, but will give you a solid base to understand what you're tasting and why. Different chocolates taste different for many reasons: genetics, environment, processing, and even your own mood."

When is the Mastering Chocolate Flavor Program offered during the year?

The Mastering Chocolate Flavor Program is offered each year in February (after Valentine's Day), June, and mid-September.

Graduate reviews

"Yes, absolutely! I wasn't quite convinced that a tasting class online would be very effective, bit indeed it was. Overall structure of each module. Readings & videos leading up to the assigned tastings. I also loved being able to read everyone else's assignments to add to my own understanding"
Nicky, 2018 Graduate

"I´m glad to have joined the program. It was even more than I´ve expected: a lot of interesting contents and practical assignments to learn and practice with many chocolates. Lots of interesting contents and supplementary reading matters. Lots of practical assignments. A tutor to answer my questions and doubts about cacao and chocolate."
Monica, 2018 Graduate

"This program was absolutely worth the cost! Yes, my expectations were exceeded. The prepared and written materials were very informative. The exercises were helpful and I absolutely feel like it was worth buying."Jessica, 2017 Graduate

Want to give the program as a gift?

Send us an email to info@ecolechocolat.com BEFORE you fill out the registration for the program of your choice and we can help you with all the details to make sure it stays a surprise. We'll also email you a printable PDF gift certificate and enrollment instructions that you can share when you give the gift. All you have to do is add a box of chocolates or a couple of great chocolate bars and you've got the perfect gift!

Cancellation Policy

You can cancel from the Mastering Chocolate Flavor Program if you have not enrolled in the program in our Learning Centre. A refund of your tuition fee minus a 10% administration fee may take approximately 10 working days to process. Once you use the Enrollment Key (which is sent to you upon receipt of your registration) to enroll into the program Learning Centre, your registration fee becomes non-refundable.